Expansion bracelet



July 18, 1950 K. c. AUGENSTEIN 2,515,817

EXPANSION BRACELET Filed April 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 18, 195() K. c. AUGENSTEIN 2,515,8W

EXPANSION BRACELET Filed April 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Juiy 18.1950

EXPANSION BRACELET Karl C. Augenstein, Cranston, R. I., assignor to Speidel Corporation, Providence, R. I., a corlpoi-ationv oi' Rhode Island Application April s, 1947, sensu Nn. 740,396.

(ci. sii-'19) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to expansion bracelets and the like articles embodying self-retracting linkages.

Bracelets of the above type comprise pivotally interconnected links associated with retracting springs, each of the links carrying an ornamental shell which provides an attractive exterior. In such constructions there is a tendency for the retracting springs to cause the bracelet to assume a twisted form when the links are retracted, such a tendency varying according to the shape or design of the individual links or shells of the bracelet. It has, therefore, been the usual Apractice to use outer shells having a shape which minimize this tendency to twist the bracelet, such, for example, as an elongate S-shape, a dumb-bell shape, etc., although it is highly desirable to useother shapes or designs if it were otherwise feasible.

Another diiilculty involved in the manufacture of such bracelets is that in applying the ornamental shells suilicient space should be maintained between the top ofthe shell and the associated link to accommodate the end of the retracting spring, and since the shells are applied over the links there is a danger of telescoping or forcing the shells too far inwardly with consequent injury to the spring.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction which reduces, if not entirely eliminates, the tendency to twist the bracelet so that the links may be formed in an unlimited number of shapes or designs; and to provide a construction which prevents the shells from being forced too far inwardly, thereby overcoming the danger of injuring the retracting springs.

Further objects relate` to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bracelet embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view, with parts broken away, of a portion of the braceletishown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom view, with the shells removed from the bottom links, of the assembly shown in Fig. 2:

Fig. 4 is an enlarged edge or side view of the bracelet;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a top link;

Figs. 7 and are bottom and side views, re- ;ectively, of a shell for the top link shown in Fig. 9, is an isometric view showing the assembled shell and top link;

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of a bottom link;

Fig. ll is an isometric view of a shell for the bottom link shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an isometric view of the assembled shell and bottom link; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged isometric view of the spring associated with each pair of top and bottom links.

In accordance with the present invention l'.

provide a bracelet which comprises a plurality ed December 30, 1941, each pair of links being extensive with the areas of their lateral edges.V

The surface contact thus provided is effective to hold the several pairs of links in properly aligned relation when retracted by the springs. An ornamental shell fits over such links and each shell is formed with recesses in its side walls through which the shoulder portions of the associated link project, thus preventing the shell from interfering with the action of the shoulder portions.

With this construction and arrangement the retracted links are notV only normally held in proper alignment and substantially free from any tendency to twist, but also the recessed walls of the shells, being seated on the shoulder por- 3 tions of the associated links, prevent the shells from being forced or telescoped too far inwardly about the links and thus maintain suflcient spacing between the top of the shells and the links to accommodate and prevent injury to the ends of the retracting springs.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings which show what is now considered a preferred embodiment illustrating the application of the invention to one of the above mentioned types of bracelets, the numeral l designates a bracelet comprising a plurality of pairs of interconnected links including a top link 2 and a bottom link 8. Since the bracelet here shown is of the equalizing i link type, the links 2 and 3 are pivotally connected at their centers by hollow studs 5 which may be formed integral with the top links 2 and the opposite ends of each top link are pivotally I -gral with the top links 2, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. The hollow studs 5 project through central openings 8 (Fig. 10) formed in the bottom links 3 and the pivots 6 project through openings 9 formed in the end portions of the links l3, the free ends of the studs 5 and pivots 6 being peened over, as indicated by numerals 5a and 6'a of Fig. 3, to prevent the links from becoming disconnected. A coil spring I is received in each tubular stud 5 with one arm or free end I| extending along the top link (Fig. and its other arm I2 extending along the bottom link (Fig. 5) and being anchored in iixed position by an inwardly bent lug or tab I5 formed integral with the bottom link 3 (Fig. 10).

The longitudinal edges ofthe top links 2 are formed with laterally projecting shoulders |5fand i6 (Figs. 6 and 9), the shoulders |5 extending from a point a, spaced inwardly from one end of the link, to the point b, spaced inwardly from its opposite end, and the shoulder |6 likewise extending between points c and d on the opposite longitudinal edge of the link. Since the top links of the present embodiment are serrated or zigzag shaped,l the shoulder portions i5 and i6 are V-shaped and their edges provide dat surfaces engageable with those of the corresponding links of the next adjacent pairs, the engaging sur-l faces being substantially co-extensive and thus are effective to hold the links in proper alignment when in retracted position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

An ornamental shell (Figs. '7 and 8), designed to t over the link 2, is formed with recesses 2| and 22 in its side walls to receive the shoulders i5 and I6, respectively,A and adjacent to the ends of these recesses the shell is formed with bendable tabs 24. When the parts are assembled the tabs 2l are bent inwardly over the link 2 so as to hold the parts together and it will be noted that one of the side walls of the shell provides an abutment against which the end of the retracting spring acts, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. It will also be noted that the recessed portions 2| and 22 seat on the shoulders II and i6, as shown in Fig. 9, and thus not only accommodate the shoulders so that they may function as above described, but also prevent the shell from being pressed too far inwardly about the link, thus providing suilicient space between the top of the shell and upper face of the link. as shown in Fig. 5, to prevent injury to the spring I0.

lateral shoulders 26 and 2l which, if desired, may be designed to perform both oi' the above described functions of the shoulders of the top link. In this embodiment the bottom links are so designed that their longitudinal edges are not only spaced from one another, as shown in Fig. 3, and hence are not utilized to align the links, but only rto provide a seat for the ornamental shells 30. These shells are formed with recessed side walls 3| and 32 shaped to receive the shoulders 25 and 26, respectively, as shown in Fig. 12, the parts being held lin membled relation by the inwardly bent tabs 34 which are integral with the shell 30. 'I'he recessed portions 3| and 32 seat squarely on the shoulders 26 and 26 and thus prevent the shells 30 from being pressed too far inwardly about the links 3, thereby insuring sufncient spacing between the shells and links to accommodate the ends I2 of the springs I0, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It is apparent from the foregoing that an expansion bracelet of either oi the above mentioned types embodying the present invention may be designed with links and shells of any desired shape or coniiguration, and that the shoulder portions of the links are enective not only to maintain the links in properly aligned relation, but also to insure adequate spacing between the shells and the links to prevent injury to the retracting springs.

While I have shown and described one desired embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that variations, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. An expansible linkage comprising a series of elongate upper links and a series of elongate lower links, the upper links being pivotally interconnected to the lower links, the longitudinal edges of the links of at least one of said series of links having laterally projecting parts, resilient means associated with said upper and lower links operative normally to maintain them in retracted position, a shell associated with each link, the shells associated with the links of the series having said laterally projecting parts having depending flanges formed with recessed portions, said recessed portions seating on said laterally projecting parts, thereby to prevent said shells from being forced too far toward said links having said laterally projecting parts, the non-recessed portions of said flanges fitting about the corresponding edge portions of said links of the series having said laterally projecting parts and being intermediate said laterally projecting parts, and an inwardly extending member on at least one of said non-recessed portions located on each longitudinal side of each shell'associated with said links of the series having said laterally projecting parts, said inwardly extending members of each shelloverlapping the link with which it is associated for holding the shell thereon.

2. An expansible linkage comprising a series of elongate upper links and a series of elongate lower links, the upper links being pivotally interconnected to the lower links, the longitudinal edges of the links having laterally projecting parts, resilient means associated with said upper and lower links operative normally to maintain them in retracted position, a shell associated with each link, the shells having depending flanges The bottom links 3 are likewise formed with 75 formed with recessed portions, said'recessed portions seating on said laterally projecting parts, UNITED STATES PATENTS thereby to prevent said shells from being forced too far toward the links, the non-recessed por- Nuggcgrg Ben'l Sepagelgos tions 0f Said flanges tting about the COI'leSpOnd- 1 704,553 Caruso Mar' 5l 1929 ing edge portions of the links intermediate said 5 119222132 Gould Aug 15: 1933 laterally projecting parts, and an inwardly ex- 2,388 554 Kreisler et aL N0V 6 1945 tending member on at least one of said nonrecessed portions located on each longitudinal FOREIGN PATENTS side of each shell, said inwardly extending mem- Number Country Date bers of each shell overlapping the link with which l0 '162,993 Germany Feb. 23, 1939 it is associated for holding the shell thereon.

, KARL C AUGENSTEIN OTHER REFERENCES Balfour Bluebook, L. G. Balfour Co., Attleboro, REFERENCES CITED Mass., page 27, #976, Mesh Chain.

The following references are of record in the l5 le o! this patent: 

